Report identifies apprenticeship decline in construction

In advance of Apprenticeship Week, Dart Tool Group is calling for more support for construction apprentices. While job demand surges across construction, the apprenticeship system that should be feeding these trades is failing to deliver, according to new data

Last year, the UK Government pledged 50,000 more apprenticeships to help tackle youth unemployment, with a target of doubling the current number of young people pursuing higher technical courses or apprenticeships by 2040, bringing the total to 10%. 

However, the newly published Dart Tool Group Apprenticeship Gap Report has identified that less than half of people across trades in the building industry are completing their apprenticeships.

The research analysed data from the Department for Education, the Office of National Statistics (ONS), and job-board site Reed across UK trade sectors, revealing where the skills crisis is most severe and why training pathways are under strain.

The report identifies that within the construction trade, there are almost 100 jobs per apprenticeship place, representing a gap of over 14,000 unfilled positions. The electrical, plumbing and heating trades also see a deficit of 9,700 and 2,000 positions unfilled, respectively, for the year ahead. 

Furthermore, the report found that in some skilled trade areas, as few as 38% of people are reaching the finish line. Within construction, completion rates fell to just 41% in 2024/2025, down from 65% completion rate the previous year.

Average apprenticeship completion rates across industries and top roles

This comes as demand for skilled workers is accelerating faster than ever before, with the construction sector alone experiencing a 16% year-on-year increase in vacancies in the first quarter of 2025. 

With skilled trades, including bricklaying, plumbing, and roofing, accounting for 10% of England’s workforce, the apprenticeship gap directly translates to delayed projects, inflated labour costs, and missed opportunities for businesses nationwide.

It is estimated that the Government’s pledge to deliver 1.5 million new homes by 2030 also requires around 140,000 additional construction workers each year for the next five years, putting pressure on a labour market that relies heavily on apprenticeships. 

To meet these targets, historic completion rates suggest roughly 700,000 people would need to start programmes to achieve 347,000 completed apprenticeships by 2033.

Ryan Paterson, Managing Director at Dart Tool Group, commented: “The findings from our Apprenticeship Gap Report have demonstrated that trades apprenticeships are facing a leaky pipeline. While the Government’s commitment to increasing the number of apprentices in the upcoming years is a step in the right direction, we also need to address the retention crisis and focus on the support and nurturing of our apprentices.

“The construction sector is facing a sharp decline in the number of young people completing apprenticeships, with 59% of construction apprentices dropping out of their course before completion. To bridge the gap between recruitment and qualification, there needs to be high-quality mentorship that equips learners with skills and confidence.

“Continuing to invest in supportive environments, smarter workforce planning, better training frameworks, and professional-grade site tools, apprentices should have the tools to be able to thrive and complete their apprenticeship, helping to address the growing workforce shortage and gradually fill the positions needed to meet the ambitious housebuilding targets.” 

Tim Balcon, CEO of the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), added: “This report demonstrates that, at present, there aren’t clear enough pathways to translate people’s training into jobs. The core issue isn’t that we’re not training enough people – around 130,000 people start some form of construction training that will lead to a qualification every year across Britain. 

“However, about 40,000 of these people will secure employment in the industry after completing their training. Some will progress onto higher-level apprenticeships or other forms of construction training, but many don’t enter the industry at all. Better retention of trainees and current workers in construction can significantly reduce the skills shortage. 

“Addressing the skills gap requires large-scale collaboration. As part of the Government’s £600 million construction skills package, we provided £32 million investment to deliver increased industry placements. Similarly, we’re collaborating with the Construction Skills Mission Board to strategically coordinate national and local programmes and initiatives to address workforce needs, engage more SMEs and micro employers to invest in skills, and ensure clear pathways into construction.”